Shin Bet Finds No Foreign Cash in Israeli Vote, Contradicting PM
Law enforcement officials say an ongoing probe detected no financial interference from the Palestinian Authority or Qatar, challenging claims made by Benjamin Netanyahu and David Zini.
By Chioma Kuznetsov ·
Israel’s domestic security agency has found no evidence of foreign interference in the October 27 elections, according to a report published by Haaretz on Monday.
The finding stands in direct conflict with public statements from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Shin Bet Director David Zini, who previously alleged that foreign money influenced the vote. Two senior law enforcement officials told the newspaper that the investigation remains active but has yet to uncover proof that several hundred thousand shekels moved from the Palestinian Authority to Arab-led political parties. The report also noted that no transfers from Qatar or other Arab nations are currently under scrutiny.
The dispute over the election results intensified after Arab-led parties secured 19 seats in the Knesset. These results give Jewish opposition parties the numerical strength to force a vote of no confidence against Netanyahu if they form a coalition with their Arab counterparts. President Isaac Herzog has tasked Gadi Eisenkot with the initial attempt to build a new government, a process that could end Netanyahu’s term. The allegations of foreign meddling extend a campaign targeting Qatar that began in the weeks following the October 7, 2023 attacks. Qatar has consistently denied these claims, labeling them unsubstantiated.
Zini, who was appointed by Netanyahu last year, has sought to investigate several prominent Palestinian citizens of Israel. Netanyahu also raised questions about a visit by politician Ahmad Tibi to Qatar shortly before the election. Tibi stated he traveled to Doha to appear on Al Jazeera. One official quoted by Haaretz described the situation as "certainly not a security matter, and it is highly doubtful that it is even a criminal one." Another official characterized the findings as "intelligence information without any real substantiation." Dozens of individuals have been questioned so far, with no evidence of money transfers emerging. Haaretz also reported that major fuel companies detected no unusual activity involving fuel cards, which weakens the specific claim that Arab voters were bribed with fuel discounts.
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said on Sunday that she had reviewed the investigation and seen no evidence of anything that would have influenced the election results or substantiated a claim of influence capable of changing the outcome. The Shin Bet and Israeli police are scheduled to submit their final assessments to Baharav-Miara in the coming days.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari reiterated the country’s stance on October 29, rejecting accusations from Israeli politicians and media contacts. Al-Ansari described the allegations as a disinformation campaign aimed at dragging Qatar into Israeli political disputes.
